Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) set the quickest lap ever recorded around Phillip Island on a Superbike machine when he powered his Ducati 1098R to a time of 1 minute 30.882 seconds, thus grabbing the first Superpole trophy of the year.

Checa, one of last year's winners in Australia, was just a fraction ahead of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) who put in a quick lap towards the end but who was edged off the top slot by 0.013 seconds. Sylvain Guintoli gave the Effenbert - Liberty Racing team a great championship baptism with third place on the grid, after another good run at Phillip Island for teh Frenchman.

Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad) made a great effort to take his S1000 RR machine to the fourth slot, just managing to hold off a last-minute attempt by Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team). Jakub Smrz (Effenbert - Liberty Racing) was next up followed by Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad), while Marco Melandri concluded his first Superpole with eighth place.

1. C. Checa 1'30.882

2. M. Biaggi1'30.895

3. S. Guintoli1'31.293

4. L. Haslam1'31.429

5. E. Laverty1'31.858

6. J. Smrz1'31.980

7. T. Corser1'32.182

8. M. Melandri1'32.662

9. M. Fabrizio1'32.153

10. T. Sykes1'32.204